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Ski
Orienteering
(description courtesy of the IOF)
Ski orienteering is a cross-country endurance winter sport.
Similar to the orienteering disciplines practised in the summer
season, ski orienteering requires an extremely high level of
both physical and mental fitness. An elite level ski-orienteer
needs excellent skiing and map reading skills - and the ability
to combine those two. The athlete has to take hundreds of route
choice decisions at high speed during every race. The
prepared ski tracks are of various quality. Throughout the
competition the ski orienteer has to make decisions about which
route is the fastest between the controls. The route choice is
made on the basis of the quality of the ski tracks, gradient and
distance, all of which can be read from the map. In respect of
physical condition, ski orienteering is comparable with marathon
running or cross-country skiing. To be successful in ski
orienteering, the athlete must master all skiing techniques,
classical and free technique as well as all general downhill and
turning techniques.
World Championships in ski
orienteering are held every even numbered year, and the World
Cup is organised in uneven numbered years. The programme
includes competitions in long distance or medium distance, short
or super-sprint distance, and relay for both women and men.
Having its origins in the
1890s, ski orienteering is a sport with long traditions. Ski
orienteering became a recognized Olympic sport in 1949.
Equipment:
- RACING EQUIPMENT: Ski
orienteers use the same kind of racing skis, ski poles,
suits, boots and bindings as cross-country skiers.
- MAP HOLDER: A specially
designed map holder attached to the chest makes it possible
to view the map at competition speed while skiing at full
speed.
- MAP: The map provided by the
organiser shows the control points which must be visited.
The map is designed to give all the information the
competitor needs in order to decide which route is the
fastest, such as the quality of the tracks, gradient and
distance.
- COMPASS: The compass is
attached to the map holder or to the skier's arm.
- CONTROL CARD: A control card
or electronic device is attached to the competitor's arm. At
each control, the competitor punches the card or insert the
electronic device as proof of having visited that control.
Watch
the event schedule for ski orienteering events
in Canada. And here's a link to what's going on
elsewhere in the world:
Here are the major
ski-orienteering events in Canada in 2010:
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